Trio Downunder

Trio Downunder

Richard Rourke - clarinet

Elizabeth Lim - clarinet

Sue Newsome - clarinet

Sumiko Yamamura - pianoforte

Trio for two clarinets and bass clarinet (1976) ………………………………….Graham Powning (1949-2020)
I. Allegro
II. Lento
III. Minuet
IV. Vivace

Songs of Sun and Moon (world premiere) for clarinet trio………………………………..Alan Holley (b.1954)

Composed for International ClarinetFest, Incheon, South Korea- July 2026
This short work explores the songs of two birds I listen to on the northern beaches of Sydney. The Grey Butcherbird sings several short melodies mostly based in D major whilst the night-time Tawny Frogmouth intones a repeated soft single note. Sometimes younger Grey Butcherbirds sing the same rhythms though in c# minor. This has encouraged me to overlay various fragments creating a cacophony of birdsong. Songs of Sun and Moon was commissioned by Trio Downunder. Sydney born composer Alan Holley (b.1954) has been a featured composer at numerous music festivals and received composer profile concerts in Croatia, Serbia, Albania, Italy and Australia. After his Sydney Symphony Orchestra commissioned trumpet concerto Doppler’s Web (2005), written for soloist Paul Goodchild was premiered, he received several more commissions for that orchestra. The Australian Chamber Choir has commissioned and performed several works that have been performed in Australia, Denmark, Germany, Belgium and England. In mid-2024 several concerts were held in Europe featuring Holley’s music including a concert of 8 works in the Croatian historic city of Varaždin. In late 2024 Richard Rourke and Friends and the Sydney Chamber Music Festival featured Holley’s music in several concerts to mark his 70th Birthday celebrations. His works are now published by Kookaburra Music and recorded on HAMMERINGS RECORDS.

Divertimento no. 3 k439b………………………………………….W.A.Mozart (1756 -1791) arr. Georgina Dobrée
I. Allegro
II. Minuet and Trio
III. Adagio
IV Minuet and Trio
V. Allegro assai

Dance Preludes……………………………………………………………………………Witold Lutoslawski (1913 -1994)
I. Allegro molto
II. Andantino
III. Allegro giocoso
IV. Andante
V. Allegro molto

TRIO DOWNUNDER

Elizabeth Lim, Sue Newsome, and Richard Rourke reunite in performance, continuing a musical collaboration that has flourished over nearly forty years across concert halls, orchestras, and stages throughout Australia and beyond.

Elizabeth Lim studied clarinet and piano at the Sydney Conservatorium and furthered her training in Europe on prestigious scholarships. She has performed with major ensembles including the Sydney Symphony, Opera Australia Orchestra, and Pacific Opera Orchestra, and held principal roles in productions such as Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables. She teaches clarinet at The Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Sue Newsome brings virtuosity to her performances – from musicals, chamber music and orchestras to global festivals and premieres of new works. She is a leading low clarinet specialist, having studied with Professor Henri Bok in the Netherlands, and is Senior Lecturer in Woodwind (Clarinet) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, The University of Sydney.

Richard Rourke, a long-time member of the Opera Australia Orchestra—the resident orchestra for opera and ballet at the Sydney Opera House—has also performed with the Sydney Symphony, Australia Ensemble, and Australian Chamber Orchestra. His international experience includes European tours and advanced study in New York with clarinettists of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

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